Lakers Rumors: The time Kobe Bryant cussed out Charles Barkley

Believe or not Lakers fans, this was supposed to be a Suns sweep. Kobe Bryant almost stole it! 

The Phoenix Suns were coached back then by Mike D’Antoni. This means the Suns were about offense first, second and third while defense was an option (Maybe?). After losing the first game of the series, the Lakers held Phoenix under 100 points for three straight games which were all wins. Tell the truth, you all thought the series was over after Kobe Bryant did this.

But the Suns eventually sped up the tempo and started hitting triple digits on the offensive end. Even then it shouldn’t have mattered. The Lakers had the Suns dead to rights in game 6. But Tim Thomas, a player that the Suns literally signed off the street just before the playoffs hit one of the most cold-blooded shots you will ever see in playoff history.

So much to break down in this sequence.

• Did you see that ridiculous shot Kobe Bryant made splitting the defense shooting high off the glass off the wrong foot?
• On the other end, it might have looked like bad defense but small ball killed the Lakers in that situation. Shawn Marion was “The Matrix” at that time. He could jump out of the gym. 
• Don’t blame Kwame Brown. He rotated all over the floor contesting Steve Nash and Tim Thomas.
• Finally, Tim Thomas can shoot. Always could even back to his days in Milwaukee with Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson.
• Kobe Bryant knew the Lakers blew their chance then when he slammed the ball down. Got to close the Suns out at home.

Was Kobe Bryant done in Los Angeles? History shows that he was a lot closer than most think.